A Firm Place to Stand

Read: Psalm 40:1-5

He lifted me out of the slimy pit; out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40:2)

The historic riverwalk area of Savannah, Georgia, is paved with mismatched cobblestones. Local residents say that centuries ago the stones provided ballast for ships as they crossed the…

Defeat or Victory?

Read: 1 John 5:1-13

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Each year on June 18 the great Battle of Waterloo is recalled in what is now Belgium. On that day in 1815, Napoleon’s French army was defeated by a multinational force commanded by the Duke of…

Take Heart!

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

I like to watch birds at play, so years ago I built a small sanctuary in our backyard to attract them. For several months I enjoyed the sight of my feathered friends feeding and flitting about—until a Cooper’s Hawk made my…

Relief for the Troubled

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12

[God will] give relief to you who are troubled. (2 Thessalonians 1:7)

One of my favorite scenes in literature occurs when a feisty aunt confronts an evil stepfather over the abuse of her nephew, David Copperfield. This scene takes place in Charles Dickens’ novel named after the main character.

When David Copperfield shows up at his aunt’s house, his…

God of My Strength

Read: Judges 7:1-8

I will strengthen you and help you. (Isaiah 41:10)

No one could have mistaken the ancient Babylonian soldiers for gentlemen. They were ruthless, resilient, and vicious, and they attacked other nations the way an eagle overtakes its prey. Not only were they powerful, they were prideful as well. They practically worshiped their own combat abilities. In fact, the Bible…

Hold On

Read: Philippians 3:12-4:1

Stand firm in the Lord. (Philippians 4:1)

Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, China, is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. To view its towering cliffs in all their glorious splendor, you must take the Tianmen Shan cable car, which covers a distance of 7,455 meters (4.5 miles). It’s amazing how this cable car can travel such…

Storms on the Horizon

Read: Matthew 8:23–28

What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! (Matthew 8:27)

Our son, Josh, is a commercial salmon fisherman in Kodiak, Alaska. Some time ago he sent me a photograph he took of a tiny vessel a few hundred yards ahead of his boat moving through a narrow pass. Ominous storm clouds loom on…

The Easy Road?

Read: Exodus 13:17-22

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. (Exodus 13:17)

Life’s path is often difficult. So if we expect that God will always give us an easy road, we may be tempted to turn our back on Him when the terrain gets tough.

If you’ve ever…

Your Journey

Read: John 14:15-21

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18)

I grew up in the rebellious 1960s and turned my back on religion. I had attended church all my life but didn’t come to faith until my early twenties after a terrible accident. Since that time, I have spent my adult years telling others of…

Free from Fear

Read: Psalm 34:1-10

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

Fear sneaks into my heart without permission. It paints a picture of helplessness and hopelessness. It steals my peace and my concentration. What am I fearful about? I’m concerned about the safety of my family or the health of loved ones. I…

Keeping Faith

Read: Hebrews 10:32-11:6

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

It’s tempting to think of faith as a kind of magic formula. If you muster up enough of it, you’ll get rich, stay healthy, and live a contented life with automatic answers to all your prayers. But life does not work according to such neat formulas. As proof, the…

No Worries

Read: Mark 4:35-5:1

Let us go over to the other side. (Mark 4:35)

A comfortable plane ride was about to get bumpy. The voice of the captain interrupted in-flight beverage service and asked passengers to make sure their seatbelts were fastened. Soon the plane began to roll and pitch like a ship on a wind-whipped ocean. While the rest of the passengers…

On Time

Read: Luke 2:25-38

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son. (Galatians 4:4)

Sometimes I joke that I’m going to write a book titled On Time. Those who know me smile because they know I am often late. I rationalize that my lateness is due to optimism, not to lack of trying. I optimistically cling to the faulty belief…

He Understands

Read: Psalm 27:1-8

The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Psalm 27:1)

Some young children have trouble falling asleep at night. While there may be many reasons for this, my daughter explained one of them as I turned to leave her bedroom one evening. “I’m afraid of the dark,” she said. I tried to relieve her fear, but I left a…